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Utica University

Utica University announces 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

  1. Utica Community
  2. Utica Stories
  3. Utica University announces 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be held on Thursday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica University is proud to honor Shayla Pominville, a Psychology and Childhood Education major from Clinton, NY who has earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average, as the 2024 Valedictorian. 

This year’s Salutatorian is Sara Rachon, a Biology major and Chemistry minor from Marcy, NY who has earned an impressive 3.99 GPA. 

Shayla Pominville, with shoulder-length brown hair, smiles at the camera.

Following graduation, Shayla aspires to be a local elementary school teacher. As a Theater minor, Shayla would like to teach a theater program for kids while educating upper elementary school students. Currently, she works at Benton Hall Academy in the Little Falls City School District as a long-term 5th grade substitute teacher. Her mother and father, Laura and Shawn, two siblings, Owen and Wyatt, and grandparents join the Utica University community in celebrating this achievement. 

Sara Rachon, with long brown hair, stands in front of a body of water and smiles at the camera.

Sara plans to attend dental school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM). Sara graduated from Holland Patent High School. Her mother and father, Scott and Lorna, three siblings, Samantha, Scott, and Sophia, and grandparents are proud of Sara and her wonderful accomplishments as a Pioneer.

More Stories

Akira Armstrong, in a white top and white blazer, stands outside on green grass, with her hand held up to her neck and smiles.
Alumni

Utica University to confer honorary degree on Akira Armstrong ’05

During its 76th undergraduate Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 9, Utica University will confer an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts...
Garrett Pratt and Jack Hrustich III combined photo
Student

Utica University announces 2025 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Utica University is proud to honor Garrett Pratt of New Hartford, New York, a health sciences and psychology dual major,...
From left to right: Dean Sharon Wise, Trent Jenny-Senior Level Runner-up Grand Prize, Richard Xu-Senior Level Grand Prize, Jacob Southwick and Mason LaBella -Junior Level Grand Prize, Director Jessica Thomas (Photo Courtesy of Tobias Neto)
On Campus

46th Annual Utica University Regional Science Fair Welcomes Middle and High School Scientists from Across the Area

Scientific knowledge drives the world forward, and at the steering wheel are an ever-growing and changing roster of bright minds...
All Stories

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